Jewellery & Silversmithing classes in Christchurch

Well I haven't blogged for ages, it has been busy time in the studio and I have been trying to find the time to update about my Jewellery & Silversmithing classes in my Christchurch studio. 

My week day morning courses have been full, as have the Thursday evening classes. There have been some lovely pieces created! Saturday workshops have really taken off in the last 2 years, students coming for a morning and creating stacking rings, pendants - and more in a few hours! 

Jewellery & silversmithing courses

A super chunky necklace created by Ann, with recycled melted down sterling silver jewellery. Many hours of work here!

A one of a kind thick cuff bangle made by Nythaniel in evenings classes.

During the weekly courses cabochons gemstones and sea glass settings have been really popular, gorgeous blue and green glass set in a silver bezel rubber setting. 

Friday Summer Workshops 

During July and August I have one day workshops on some Friday and Saturday mornings. My silver stacking ring classes are popular, making a trio of them in sterling silver.  Learning to shape a create rings in your desired size, solder, texture before they are polished and ready to take home! A productive and enjoyable morning.

As well as the stacking rings, wave bangles have been really popular in the studio. Making thin silver bangles and shaping them in a die to create a lovely uniform, continuous wave shape to the band. We make 2 in silver, and one in copper to give a contrasting colour. If you can't tolerate copper against the skin, then you are welcome to make all of them in silver- or if you just prefer it!

If you are interested in workshop dates do follow the link to my classes page and check out the Jewellery workshops

Wedding rings

I have also been busy with wedding rings, either commissions for me to create the bands, or couples coming to make their own for their special day. I was commissioned to create these 18ct yellow gold rings for a couple recently with a lovely texture. Do get in touch if you would like to  make your own wedding rings or create rings for each other for a special occasion.

Make your own wedding rings- Platina jewellery, Christchurch

Making your own wedding rings is a great way of being really involved in the preparation of your special day. No prior experience of jewellery making or silversmithing is required. It's interesting how many people I get through to my regular classes and they are almost apologetic for being, in their own words, "not very arty" or "I'm not creative".
You don't need to have experience, or to come up with a clever design, just an idea of what you like and we can attempt to create it.

I had a special workshop day last Autumn, with a couple making their own wedding rings. What was an additional bit of 'special' was that they gave me a bundle of old, vintage and sentimental jewellery to melt down.
We planned that I would spend a day melting down the jewellery, that was no longer worn, broken or just not to their taste.

When a family member gives us a piece of jewellery, and it happens so often! We often feel obliged (sorry horrible word) to wear it, or have it repaired and wear it as it is, but we don't. Maybe it isn't our style, it's old fashioned and just not US. So many times have I been approached by customers who  have kept these pieces in a drawer or jewellery boxes for years and it's never used, but they don't quite want to part with it.
Repurposing the jewellery is such a nice way to use those sentimental pieces, but wear them in a way you would like. Having them remade into something that is more YOU ensures that at least they will be worn and enjoyed, rather than being stored away and forgotten about. The gold or silver can be melted down and made into a new ring, earrings, pendant, depending on what you would like and how much metal there is.

With this particular task I melted down the gold jewellery and there was enough to make his and hers wedding rings.

Started by preparing the gold, melting it down and then rolling the two ingots through my rolling mill, until we ended up with the two strips of gold (above right). These were filed along the long edges and shaped around a ring mandrel, checking the size before the couple cut off the excess at one end of their metal.

After filing the ends so they sit together nicely, we then solder the rings using flux and gold solder wire. Spending the time on the filing ensures that we can create a good, neat join with the solder.
The rings were finished with a matt satin polish on the polishing motor.

Statement earrings for Valentines Day

Statement earrings ready for Valentines Day

It's all about earrings at the moment, large ones! I have been in the studio making some ready for Valentines Day.

Valentino Womenswear Spring/Summer 2020
Paris fashion week
Photo: Pascal le Segretain/Getty images







Hoops are still super popular and I've been working on them with long drops/charms to size them up.
These are my basic 1.25 inch diameter hoops with a long leaf shaped drop, giving an overall drop of 2.5inches. They catch the light beautifully (and the eye!) with the hammered texture.

£48. All my earrings can be found in my Etsy shop. www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Platinajewellery

1.25 inch Sterling silver hoops, with triple bar drop to add extra sparkle

 £65

Etsy Shop

I find trying to fill my Etsy shop an ever-daunting task. Designing and making pieces is a lengthy, yet enjoyable process- after all making and creating is why I do what I do. It is a passion to create, but listing items in an Etsy shop can feel to me like I'm trying to fill a colander with water. 

How many items is enough items? Just when I feel like I'm making progress, I come across shops with hundreds of pieces of jewellery listed, compared to mine with only 30 :-/

I do feel though that at the moment I have to be concerned more with quality rather quantity. Quality of the pieces that I list, but also quality of the photography that I use to entice people (hopefully) to my shop. I try to prioritise jobs that I need to do. Planning and paperwork, social media and online stuff, as well as making and promoting.

Some of the pieces I've been working on lately have been 

enamelled. After working on paper I like to revert quickly to
trying out test pieces in metal, just to see if they translate well
out of the sketchbook.

Platina Jewellery Workshops 

AS well as weekly classes we hold one day workshops. We had 4 lovely ladies for a fun day, all making pendants. The one day sessions are full on busy, but always sociable, we are in at 9.30 until 5 pm with just a quick 20 minute break for lunch before we are back on it!

I am always amazed by the different designs that everyone comes up with, even though they all have the same brief.

The day begins with a cutting session, practising piercing out copper to get to grips with the saw frame. Students are given a sheet of design ideas to use, or to give them a starting point for inspiring their own design. 

We run one day workshops throughout the year, but also regular weekly classes. The Thursday evening classes are popular so we are just starting a trial evening course on a Tuesday 7-9pm starting in June.

It always amazes me how so many different designs are produced by the students and how inspired it keeps me too!

Please get in touch if you would like to join any of our courses. Email louiseplatina@gmail.com for more information.

Hi @NicoletteDawn1 sounds very organised! 😀

Hi @NicoletteDawn1 sounds very organised! 😀

— Louise Taylor (@louiseplatina) November 3, 2015

from Twitter https://twitter.com/louiseplatina

November 03, 2015 at 08:11PM
via IFTTT

Hi @Frankie_Buttons I've just raced back from Pilates 😀😀

Hi @Frankie_Buttons I've just raced back from Pilates 😀😀

— Louise Taylor (@louiseplatina) November 3, 2015

from Twitter https://twitter.com/louiseplatina

November 03, 2015 at 08:10PM
via IFTTT

Hi @buck_lj yes I find it hard too, and making everything from scratch. I'm planning packaging at the moment, boxes, price tags #dorsetteam

Hi @buck_lj yes I find it hard too, and making everything from scratch. I'm planning packaging at the moment, boxes, price tags #dorsetteam

— Louise Taylor (@louiseplatina) November 3, 2015

from Twitter https://twitter.com/louiseplatina

November 03, 2015 at 08:09PM
via IFTTT

Hi @thedorothydays good thanks! 😀

Hi @thedorothydays good thanks! 😀

— Louise Taylor (@louiseplatina) November 3, 2015

from Twitter https://twitter.com/louiseplatina

November 03, 2015 at 07:41PM
via IFTTT

Autumn Colours from the Dorset Team by Studio Pickles https://t.co/JQcBz4OEkK via @Etsy

Autumn Colours from the Dorset Team by Studio Pickles https://t.co/JQcBz4OEkK via @Etsy

— Louise Taylor (@louiseplatina) November 3, 2015

from Twitter https://twitter.com/louiseplatina

November 03, 2015 at 12:21PM
via IFTTT

Will be busy back in the studio after half term, getting ready for @DorsetTeam Xmas fair 5th dec #Dorsethour https://t.co/UOjsEZ6sdP

Will be busy back in the studio after half term, getting ready for @DorsetTeam Xmas fair 5th dec #Dorsethour http://pic.twitter.com/UOjsEZ6sdP

— Louise Taylor (@louiseplatina) November 2, 2015

from Twitter https://twitter.com/louiseplatina

November 02, 2015 at 08:13PM
via IFTTT

Hi @studiopickles yes, but first catching up on the hunt from last night! Fantastic filming, #dorsetteam #Dorsethour

Hi @studiopickles yes, but first catching up on the hunt from last night! Fantastic filming, #dorsetteam #Dorsethour

— Louise Taylor (@louiseplatina) November 2, 2015

from Twitter https://twitter.com/louiseplatina

November 02, 2015 at 08:00PM
via IFTTT

One day workshop 'make a pendant in a day' Friday 6th nov #dorsethour https://t.co/6HJPxebQ4t https://t.co/OOBRJqY7cv

One day workshop 'make a pendant in a day' Friday 6th nov #dorsethour https://t.co/6HJPxebQ4t http://pic.twitter.com/OOBRJqY7cv

— Louise Taylor (@louiseplatina) October 19, 2015

from Twitter https://twitter.com/louiseplatina

October 19, 2015 at 08:14PM
via IFTTT

Hi @DorsetTeam hoping to pop down and buy at this fair for a change! 😀😀

Hi @DorsetTeam hoping to pop down and buy at this fair for a change! 😀😀

— Louise Taylor (@louiseplatina) October 19, 2015

from Twitter https://twitter.com/louiseplatina

October 19, 2015 at 07:57PM
via IFTTT

One day Jewellery & Silversmithing workshop coming up in november #dorsethour http://t.co/6HJPxebQ4t http://t.co/iJklQlD9nC

One day Jewellery & Silversmithing workshop coming up in november #dorsethour http://t.co/6HJPxebQ4t http://pic.twitter.com/iJklQlD9nC

— Louise Taylor (@louiseplatina) October 12, 2015

from Twitter https://twitter.com/louiseplatina

October 12, 2015 at 08:07PM
via IFTTT

Good luck! @SimplyLoveArt @DorsetHour 😀😀

Good luck! @SimplyLoveArt @DorsetHour 😀😀

— Louise Taylor (@louiseplatina) October 12, 2015

from Twitter https://twitter.com/louiseplatina

October 12, 2015 at 07:49PM
via IFTTT

Yes @Dorset_Social @Dorset_Hour particularly beautiful at the moment!

Yes @Dorset_Social @Dorset_Hour particularly beautiful at the moment!

— Louise Taylor (@louiseplatina) October 12, 2015

from Twitter https://twitter.com/louiseplatina

October 12, 2015 at 07:44PM
via IFTTT

Hi @Dorset_Hour someone has been enjoying the sunshine at the studio recently #dorsethour #dorsetteam http://t.co/EvaPe6ifeX

Hi @Dorset_Hour someone has been enjoying the sunshine at the studio recently #dorsethour #dorsetteam http://pic.twitter.com/EvaPe6ifeX

— Louise Taylor (@louiseplatina) October 12, 2015

from Twitter https://twitter.com/louiseplatina

October 12, 2015 at 07:39PM
via IFTTT

Looking forward to the @dorsetteam fair Etsy Made Local Stallholders 2015 curated by DorsetTeam on Etsy http://t.co/LXnnISnHlh via @Etsy

Looking forward to the @dorsetteam fair Etsy Made Local Stallholders 2015 curated by DorsetTeam on Etsy http://t.co/LXnnISnHlh via @Etsy

— Louise Taylor (@louiseplatina) September 29, 2015

from Twitter https://twitter.com/louiseplatina

September 29, 2015 at 03:23PM
via IFTTT

Salibury Festival & a studio move

After a busy summer of work I finished the holidays of with the Salisbury Craft & Heritage Festival 4th-6th Sept. It turned out to be a glorious weekend full of visitors. It was a busy few days of sales and chatting to lots of old faces, I bumped into some of my students from my first teaching days at Bournemouth & Poole college - 10 years ago!

The quality of work was great, and even though there were a lot of jewellers all of the work was very different. The grounds are beautiful and it made for a very picturesque venue.

                                                         Part of my display at Salisbury


Over the summer I was finishing some new work and setting some glass and paper pieces for the Festival.

In April we got the news from our landlord that he was wanting to turn our property into residential accommodation. We were initially devastated to have to move, but after spending a couple of months looking at properties we found a lovely property in Millhams street in Christchurch. It is very quirky and has an industrial feel to it, so fits in very well with the work we do.
Unfortunately Anne Marie from Meninafeliz, who was sharing the Church street studio with me decided she wanted to work from home. I am lucky that another friend Connie found the new property and wanted to share the studio space.

We've had the stove looked at, and after a chimney sweep it will be good to go in the winter!
Really pleased with the size and the layout, and after painting the walls and the floor we installed the benches
and equipment.

Classes have started back this week. Trying to find where I've put everything and get used to the new layout, but all going fine.



Early Summer

Early summer kicked off with a visit to the V&A and The Alexander McQueen Savage Beauty exhibition.
I've followed McQueen's career with interest over the years, as we studied at the same college, Central St martins over a similar period of time- and there any connection ends!
I found the exhibition more of a theatrical experience with a series of installations, that were very atmospheric and thought provoking. The quality of the work was mesmerising in the flesh, and was amazing to see up close. Over the years I have seen a lot of McQueens work in magazines and publications, but was pleased to see so many pieces that were undiscovered for me.

The jewellery pieces were a collaboration between McQueen and jeweller Shaun Leane, and featured many works that are very much a part of the body or face. The spinal piece below was one of my favourites.